A DISTRAUGHT father has spoken of his heartbreak after learning a man jailed for murdering his son is on the run.

Wyndham Richard Thomas, 33, was serving a life sentence for the murder of 23-year-old Maesteg engineer Christopher Williams when he escaped from HMP Prescoed, near Usk, in Monmouthshire, on Wednesday.

Last night the victim’s heartbroken father Allan Williams said they only learned the killer was on the loose after listening to the radio.

Gwent Police last night said their policy was that the probation service would contact the victim’s family “within 24 hours” of an incident.

Thomas, along with Alan Naylor and Christopher Chislett was one of three men convicted of aggravated assault and murder in 1997.

Mr Williams, called a “decent and brave young man” by the trial judge, had come home late at night to find the three men burgling his home in Nantyfyllon, where his pregnant wife and three-year-old girl were sleeping.

After giving chase he was fatally stabbed in the heart.

Police last night warned members of the public not to approach Thomas, who “may be a potential risk to the public”.

Mr Williams’ father told the Echo of his family’s distress at discovering the killer was free.

“We had to find out – Christopher’s children, his girlfriend and his parents – we all had to find out that his killer was on the loose by listening to the news,” he said.

“It is almost too much to bear. What if he is looking for revenge? I haven’t seen a single police car round here today. We are distraught.

“Not one phone call from the police? No warning at all. A man’s escaped – warn us so that Christopher’s children don’t have to have it dropped on them out of the blue.”

The family said they had taken the children – who live with Mr Williams’ former girlfriend Melanie Hicks – out of school as a precaution.

“My wife hasn’t been able to look at a picture of Christopher for 13 years, and the police don’t even think to warn us. I’m so, so upset, but I’m also absolutely furious,” added Mr Williams.

“We haven’t had to look at the faces of the men who killed my boy for all these years and now suddenly he’s everywhere. They treat us like we are not worthy of that information.

“In time I will write an official complaint to the police, but not yet – I want them to find out the way I found out.”

Thomas, of Croeserw, was 19 when he was convicted for his part in the murder. He was released after serving 10 years of his life sentence but within months he committed another serious crime.

He was taken back into custody and after a short spell at a category two prison he was moved to the open prison at Usk.

Mr Williams, 59, was visibly shaking and fighting back tears yesterday when he said he had “absolutely no faith” in the justice system.

“To me, a life sentence should be a life sentence. He should never have been in an open prison. A man who commits murder can just abscond from a prison, does that seem right?

“It is a joke for any family member who has to sit in court to hear that they get life, only to watch them walk free.

“We have been given life, me and my family – his girlfriend who was five months’ pregnant when he was killed – we are the ones who get a life sentence.

“You never get over something like this. You learn to get on with things. Some days are worse than others. Especially birthdays, Christmases, family events – there’s always someone missing.

“We are a very close-knit family and we manage to help one another through it.”

A Gwent Police spokesman described Thomas as white, 5ft 7ins, of medium build with a scar on the right side of his forehead.

He is believed to have contacts throughout South Wales, particularly in Caerphilly and Maesteg.

The spokesman added: “We have activated an operational plan with the aim of locating him and the prison is co-operating fully with us.”

The judge in the original trial concluded that Chislett had inflicted the fatal wound and Naylor had also been armed with a knife. Thomas knew both men were armed with knives and might use them in the event of a confrontation, the judge at Swansea Crown Court said at the end of the trial in 1998.

Christopher’s brother Lee was driving his wife to work when he heard about Thomas’ escape.

He said: “What would I do if I saw him in the street? I know it was 13 years ago but I’ll still recognise him.

“He’s a threat to my family. Honestly, I feel sick to my stomach.”

A Prison Service spokesperson said: “HMP Prescoed prisoner Wyndham Richard Thomas absconded from the establishment on Wednesday, September 22. This is now a matter for the police.

“Prisoners located in open conditions have been rigorously risk assessed and categorised as being of low risk to the public.”

A spokeswomen for Gwent Police said: “Following a comprehensive risk assessment of the absconder, agencies including prison, probation and Gwent Police took immediate steps to locate the individual.

“Gwent Police adhere to the Victim Liaison Policy and Victims Charter, which are national policies, which sets out guidelines on processes to be followed in informing victims and this policy was followed on this occasion.

“In line with this policy, considering the relevant risk the individual posed, the victims family were contacted, by the probation service, within 24 hours of the incident.

“Gwent Police continue to follow all lines of enquiries to locate the absconder.”

Anyone with information about Thomas’ whereabouts should call Gwent Police on 01633 838111.